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Merit Badges

Introduction to Merit Badges       

There have been several questions about merit badges and what is needed to get a merit badge. The primary source for information on how to go about earning a merit badge is in the Boy Scout Handbook. Chapter seven (7) beginning on page 185 explains the process, from how to start to how to wear the badges after they are earned. Page 187 explains how the scout gets a merit badge card and begins work on the merit badge. I put together the following information from the Boy Scout Requirements 2001 book to help everyone understand the process better.

The scout can learn about sports, crafts, science, trades, business and future careers as he earns merit badges. There are more than 100 merit badges (119 as of January 1, 2001). Any Boy Scout may work on any merit badge at any time. However, to complete some merit badges, the Scout must complete another merit badge first (e.g., Firs Aid is required for Emergency Preparedness and Swimming is required for Lifesaving). You don’t need to have had rank advancement to be eligible.

Pick A Subject. Talk to your Scoutmaster, Advancement Chairman or another adult leader about your interests. Read the requirements of the merit badges you think might interest you. Pick one to earn. Your Scoutmaster or Advancement Chairman will give you the name of a person from a list of counselors. These counselors have special knowledge in their merit badge subjects and are interested in helping you.

Scout Buddy System. You must have another person with you at each meeting with the merit badge counselor. This person can be another Scout, your parents or guardian, a brother or sister, a relative or a friend.

Call The Counselor. Get a signed blue merit badge card from your Scoutmaster or Advancement Chairman. Get in touch with the merit badge counselor and tell him or her that you want to earn the merit badge. The counselor may ask you to come and see him so he can explain what he expects and start helping you meet the requirements.

When you know what is expected, start to learn and do the things required. Ask your counselor to help you learn the things you need to know or do. You should read the merit badge pamphlet on the subject. Many troops and schools or public libraries have them.

Show Your Stuff. When you are ready, call the counselor again to make an appointment to meet the requirements. When you go take along the things you have made to meet the requirements. If they are too big to move, take pictures or have an adult tell in writing what you have done. The counselor will ask you to do each requirement to make sure that you know your stuff and have done or can do the things required.

Get The Badge. When the counselor is satisfied that you have met each requirement, he or she will sign your blue card. The Counselor may or may not keep the “Counselor” portion of the blue card. Give the signed blue card to your Advancement Chairman so that your merit badge emblem can be secured for you. Be sure to keep the “Applicant Record” portion of the card for your permanent records. If you move and join another troop, this is your permanent record and proof that you have earned a merit badge.

Requirements. You are expected to meet the requirements as they are stated --- no more and no less. You are expected to do exactly what is stated in the requirements. If it says "show or demonstrate," that is what you must do. Just telling about it isn’t enough. The same thing holds true for such words as "make," "list," "in the field," and "collect," "identify," and "label." One word of caution -- counselors may require slight variations in how or what they require you to do. This is one reason it is wise to contact the counselor prior to beginning work on a merit badge.

Note: There is NO DEADLINE for earning Merit Badges, except the Scout's 18th Birthday. Once a Scout has started working on a Merit Badge (i.e. obtained a signed "Blue Card" Application for Merit Badge from his Scoutmaster, had an initial discussion with a merit badge Counselor, and started working on the requirements), he may continue using those requirements until he completes the badge or turns 18.

THERE IS NO ONE YEAR LIMIT ON SO-CALLED "PARTIALS".

In contrast to the rule for rank advancements, which imposes a specific deadline for using the old requirements, The rule for Merit Badges is as follows:

If the requirements change while a Scout is working on the badge, he may continue to use the OLD requirements until he completes the work, or he may use the new requirements if he wishes. It is HIS choice, and his alone.

If a Merit Badge is discontinued, Scouts working on the badge when it is removed from the Boy Scout Requirements booklet may continue to work toward completing the badge, and get credit for earning the badge, until they turn 18. However, it may not be possible to obtain an actual merit badge patch, once the local council's supply is exhausted.

If a discontinued Merit Badge is replaced with one or more other Merit Badges covering the same or similar topics (such as Rifle and Shotgun Shooting MB which was replaced by Rifle Shooting MB and Shotgun Shooting MB), a Scout that has earned the discontinued badge may also earn the new badge or badges. If the badge is simply renamed (such as Firemanship MB which was changed to Fire Safety MB), Scouts may NOT earn the badge again. If the badge number in BSA's numbering system is the same before and after the change, it is a renaming. If a new number is assigned, it is a replacement.